South Carolinians share a common value that public meetings and the work of government should be done in public so it is open and transparent to everyone. This is enshrouded in law as the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. Simply put, the law ensures the public’s business is done in public. There are a few […]
Guest Editorial: Democracy can’t be fully realized without government transparency
August 18, 2022 By
If governmental transparency is not achieved, our democracy will also never be fully realized. Rejoice, though, the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (SCFOIA) exists and sets minimum requirements of transparency on entities who receive public funds. Use it or we may well lose it. SCFOIA provides, for example, deadlines upon how fast public bodies […]
Guest Editorial: Detention Center needs more staff, better pay, return of Ms. Lawson
August 11, 2022 By
I am appealing to the administration and council on behalf of myself and the Fairfield County Detention Center staff. The county is about to receive the second part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding, and I notice that none of it has been allocated to the Detention Center which is understaffed and underpaid. That […]
Guest Editorial: Inadequate staffing puts detention center employees in danger
August 4, 2022 By
This editorial was presented as a public comment during the July 25 Fairfield county council meeting. As a 17-year experienced detention officer and supervisor in various correction facilities in other counties, and I can assure you that I know there is power in numbers. Offenders have 24 hours a day to observe, plot and plan, […]
Letter: Pay Poll Workers
August 4, 2022 By
I was surprised to see the half page ad in several South Carolina newspapers the week of July 24 – 30 thanking the people of South Carolina for getting out and voting in the June elections. I was even more surprised when I read that the Executive Director of the South Carolina Elections Commission, who […]
Letter: It’s time for a hero in Fairfield
August 4, 2022 By
After months in the planning, the five majority council members have dealt more misery to Fairfield County, approving an industrial area next to residential areas. Furthermore, the five cannot justify what county funds are available anymore or where the money is going. Years ago I endured the same situations in another county. It went on […]
Letter: Our County Leaders Need Fiscal Common Sense
July 21, 2022 By
Administration and Council obviously require full fiscal transparency to manifest optimum usage of county resources. The path to transparency starts with council ensuring county financials are produced and submitted online quarterly. These reports would include a year to date income statement, balance sheet, detailed fund balance and a comparison of the current budget accounts’ figures […]
Letter: The Fund Balance Isn’t Dry?
July 14, 2022 By
So, the fund balance is not so dry after all! Eureka! We do have the money to address our desperate First Responder and Animal Shelter needs. Yes there are millions of dollars just lying fallow in the county’s fund balance – the same fund balance that Mr. Bell has been telling us is dry, all […]
Guest Editorial: Fairfield Animal Shelter Intake is Like a Dungeon, Temps in 90s
June 30, 2022 By
June 27, 2022 address to Fairfield County Council by Samira Yaghi, Fairfield Animal Shelter Volunteer Rescue Coordinator I come before you with a desperate plea for the animals. I’ve spent the last five plus years putting a band-aid on the needs for our shelter animals. And by band aid, I mean getting them out to […]
Letter: Show Me The Money
June 30, 2022 By
I’m encouraged about getting more information from our new Board, but I need to point out that there are some better choices to be made for our Crickentree neighborhood. The way I see it, the Board should do what they said they would do, which is to increase our Reserve funds for future needs. In […]
